Villagers have rallied round to help a neighbour who suffered a brain haemorrhage get her garden ready in time for a fundraising nationwide showcase event.

Weston-under-Wetherley resident Sue Garden, 52 and a breast unit care nurse at Warwick Hospital, has been making a good recovery at the Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital in Heathcote since she was struck down at work in November.

In the meantime, fellow members of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) recently visited Sue’s home in Simpkins Close and worked on the garden to make the improvements she had planned to show people when she, like them, opens it to the public next month for a two day festival to support good causes.

Sue’s husband Chris, 54, said: “Sue was in the process of preparing the garden and half of it was being dug up when she had the haemorrhage.

“She is the expert and when she became ill we didn’t know whether we could take part this year.

“But it has become a motivation for her in her recovery.

It has been great to have that level of support

Chris Garden

“Right from the start fellow villagers offered to help and it has been great to have that level of support.

“All the other people who are opening up their gardens came around, there’s about 20 in total, it was amazing.”

Chris said how he and fellow family members, including daughter Ellie, 17, were told to expect the worst when Sue fell ill but, despite suffering from some short-term memory loss and vision impairment she has made “really good progress” at the “fantastic” hospital and has been able to have home visits where she has seen the garden in all its glory.

And on Saturday June 6 and Sunday 7 she will be there to welcome visitors.

Chris said: “People will be impressed by the mixture and variety of plants and the combination of colours.

“It’s just a really nice place to spend leisure time.

“People visiting the village will be able to see a range of gardens at both old and newer properties and get lots of ideas for their gardens.”

The other gardens open in the village are at the 12th century, Grade I listed, St Michael’s church, Glebe Cottage, The Old Forge, 13 Rugby Road, 5 Rugby Road and numbers 4, 8, 10 and 23 in Alderman Way.

The gardens will be open from 12.30pm to 5pm on both days and admission is £4 for adults and free for children,

Cream teas and cakes will be available at the village hall where there will also be craft and plant stalls.